Odd tire wear

Maverick44 · Aug 3, 2020

So, on the way home from work yesterday, my car started pulling to the left and the steering wheel would shake while accelerating. When I got home I checked the tire pressure and it was a bit low. I filled it up and on the way to work today it felt ok. It was still pulling to the left, but just barely.

On the way home, it started pulling kinda hard again and the wheel was shaking again. So I get home and go to look to see what's up. I could smell burning rubber and I found this on the back side of the wheel.

Any ideas on what could cause this? The other side looked just fine, and it didn't pull to the left before this all started yesterday. Maybe a suspension issue? I guess I'm going to be getting a new tire tomorrow...

The groove is pretty deep and is concave. It's almost like it's been carved out by something round.

(pics below)

ZX9RCAM · Aug 3, 2020

Waiting on picture....

Maverick44 · Aug 3, 2020

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Texas_Lone_Ranger · Aug 3, 2020

Possibly a Tie-Rod or Ball-Joint past life expectancy would be my guess.

Army 1911 · Aug 3, 2020

You can see cord on the sidewall and tread wear shows it was out of alignment.

What caused the side wall wear, maybe a tire shop can tell you. There is probably extra rubber on the front suspension.

Texasgordo · Aug 3, 2020

Obviously Covid 19 symptoms

ZX9RCAM · Aug 3, 2020

Army 1911 said:
You can see cord on the sidewall and tread wear shows it was out of alignment.

What caused the side wall wear, maybe a tire shop can tell you. There is probably extra rubber on the front suspension.

Yep, severely out of alignment.
Something probably broke, or is fixing to.

Byrd666 · Aug 3, 2020

Tie rod and or idler arm. I didn't say ball joint only because my '01 Dodge ext. cab had a bad ball joint on driver's side that would cause hellacious pulling to the right but, never showed wear of the misalignment sort.

What year and make?

ETA: I drove from central Texas to north central Montana and back, plus another 5-6k miles before it got repaired. Never showed other than normal tire wear the whole time.

busykngt · Aug 3, 2020

Yep, an alignment check is called for. Have them check not only toe but also camber angle - especially if front end damage has occurred (she's hit curb, pot holes, etc.).

pronstar · Aug 3, 2020

Crawl under your car and see if you can feel anything loose in the front suspension components.

I’m gonna guess bad tie rod ends.

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jetcycles · Aug 3, 2020

Vehicle? Mileage? Mileage on tires? That tire looks like it is near the end of its usable life, how do the others look?

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Maverick44 · Aug 3, 2020

The car is a 2010 Ford Focus, the tires came with it when I bought it a few months ago and looked to be brand new. The other three still look pretty new. It has 75,000 miles on it.

The tire shop I go to is also a mechanic, so I'll see if they can't take a look up under it tomorrow.

Thanks fellas

dsgrey · Aug 4, 2020

Something seems odd. You say the other 3 look pretty new but this tire not only is burning one side but the "good" side looks to be near the wear bars. While alignment and or worn suspension can cause the major issue, I don't see how it could cause the overall tire to wear out fast overall when the other 3 look pretty new.

jetcycles · Aug 4, 2020

When were the tires last rotated? A quick Google search shows uneven tire wear to be a common complaint on the focus platform.

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oldag · Aug 4, 2020

jetcycles said:
When were the tires last rotated? A quick Google search shows uneven tire wear to be a common complaint on the focus platform.

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If the other three tires are good, this is not a lack of rotation.

Definitely look at the suspension.

jetcycles · Aug 4, 2020

oldag said:
If the other three tires are good, this is not a lack of rotation.

Definitely look at the suspension.

I ask the rotation question because, if recently rotated, the problem area might not be in the front of the vehicle as it appears to be. I'm no mechanic by trade, but I have turned wrenches on race cars across multiple motorsport disciplines (even pitting on a Pikes Peak race team), so I tend to know my way around a vehicle. The best way (for us) to theorize what is going on is to identify potential variables and rule them out systematically, in my humble opinion. I'll get back to being a pipeliner now, good luck OP.

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oldag · Aug 4, 2020

jetcycles said:
I ask the rotation question because, if recently rotated, the problem area might not be in the front of the vehicle as it appears to be. I'm no mechanic by trade, but I have turned wrenches on race cars across multiple motorsport disciplines (even pitting on a Pikes Peak race team), so I tend to know my way around a vehicle. The best way (for us) to theorize what is going on is to identify potential variables and rule them out systematically, in my humble opinion. I'll get back to being a pipeliner now, good luck OP.

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Good point.

I was assuming if the tires had been rotated recently, sure someone would have pointed out the excessive wear. But that could be a bad assumption.

TheDan · Aug 4, 2020

That tire looks like it came off a stanced car.

FireInTheWire · Aug 4, 2020

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Focus/2010/wheels_hubs/

https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Focus/2010/suspension/suspension.shtml

Maybe some insight...

Axxe55 · Aug 4, 2020

The wear pattern looks to point towards needing an alignment, or possible worn steering components. Only one front tire showing that wear pattern indicates a possible worn steering part. Out of alignment, can affect both front tires.

If it is a worn steering part, check the other side as well. It may be close to failing as well.

Odd tire wear

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